Talking Admissions and Med Student Life

 “The most challenging, but yet the most enjoyable educational experience I’ve ever had; just a blast. I absolutely loved it!”With finals out of the way, Tanner reflects back on his first year of medical school and the path that led him there. He shares what inspired him to become a doctor, and discusses getting involved in things that kept him motivated in his journey. We talk about some of his best and most surprising experiences in his first year, and finally, his decision to join the Air Force and how that impacts medical school.

 “I made a goal of an effort to spend some time in the cities that I thought I would like that I had never been to during interview”Natasha walked into her third year rotations with an open mind, ready to see what type of medicine would pique her interest and leave her clamoring for more. We talk about how she discovered what “train wreck” medicine was and how it appealed to her. She tells me about what it was like to hit the interview trail without a solid preference of where she would end up, and finally, we discuss why she brought her significant other with her on a few of the interview trips. #Classof2017 #UW

 “Expect the unexpected in third year because that is what will happen”Kara had a strong pull towards pediatrics as she entered medical school, but her third year rotations set her on a different course entirely. We talk about the unexpected path she encountered and how it led to dual applying for residency. She discusses the difficulties of keeping the dual residency a secret while on the interview trail and finally, how it was important for her to think of the long term when ranking her residencies and deciding what to do in her career. #Classof2017 #UNI

“Regardless of where I’m going, I’m doing ortho and that’s all I care about”Jake always had it in the back of his mind that he wanted to be an orthopedic surgeon and med school only solidified that.  With an above average Step 1 score, but a below average one for the orthopedic surgery field, he knew it would take some work to achieve his dream.  We talk about how he compensated for his Step score and what “snagging” honors mean and why it’s important.  He relays his experience of being asked to sing karaoke at one of his residency interviews and finally, how he responded to opening up his match envelope and seeing that he matched where he felt his worst interview had occurred. #Classof2017 #KansasCity

 “What else would I be doing? What else would I do with my time that I would love more? I couldn’t think of anything. I love what I do and I still have a very robust social and family life.”We’re excited to welcome Susan back as a guest on the Pod. She was one of our first episodes four years ago and filled us in on what the application process was like and what her plans were. Now a 4th year, she’s ready to graduate and has had an adventurous and exciting time! We talk about her experience with FASPE (Fellowship at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics) in Germany and Poland. She fills me in on why she decided to join the Air Force just before beginning medical school, and shares her excitement of being promoted from a 2nd Lieutenant, to a Captain as soon as she crosses the stage. Finally, we discuss her trips to Nepal where she witnessed her work of initial data collecting, grow into sustainable health care. #Classof2017 #Northwestern

“I realized that what I loved in OB/GYN was actually when I would deliver with the family medicine physicians.”Haleigh enjoyed all of her third year rotations, but her experience with Family Medicine struck a chord and it wasn’t long before she realized that was the path for her career to follow. We talk about the “womb to tomb” concept, and why it was important to her to find a residency program where family medicine was still valued. She explains what the Utah-Indiana connection is and finally, how her family reacted when she decided to punk them on #MatchDay2017. #McKayDee

“It’s definitely stressful to have an idea of what you want to do because you have this added stress of wanting to excel in that rotation. I think there’s just so much more personal stress that you put on performing well.”As the daughter of an OB/GYN physician, Melissa was able to learn and shadow the field that interested her prior to starting medical school.  Global health missions, during her undergrad years, only intensified her desire and she entered medical school strong in her passion to pursue her OB/GYN dreams.  We talk about the impact of that knowledge leading up to her third year rotations and how she fell in love again with women’s health.  She walks me through the highs and lows leading up to #MatchDay2017 and, finally, we discuss the reason behind the higher than normal match rate in OB/GYN for the #UUSOM #Classof2017.  #WashingtonHospitalCenter #Georgetown

“On my away rotations I was able to appreciate that I had learned well here and had been taught how to present well and write notes, how to be professional.”Kelly knew that with a lower board score, it would take some additional maneuvers to increase her chances of interviewing for general surgery residency spots. We talk about her decision to complete several away rotations and how the experiences impacted her. She talks about the challenge of having to tie continuous two hand knots while conversing during an interview and why she likens Match Day to the NBA Draft. #PennState

 “We kind of took a very passive approach where we just talked about it for a long time. We didn’t put a rank list together; we just kind of in all of our downtime had discussions.”Monica and George met at a Second Look Day event here at #UUSOM before matriculation. We talk about how an organized hike after the event led them to a conversation regarding gap year travel and eventually, a relationship in their first year of medical school. They offer insight to navigating a couple’s match and some of the successful strategies they used. Finally, they fill us in on how they kept their minds off of #Match2017 and their plans as they move forward in the next step of their relationship. #Stanford

Levon, who is in his third year here at #UUSOM, chose Forensic Pathology as his elective rotation. We talk about what interested him in Pathology, and what a typical day looks like as a Forensic Pathologist. We revisit the story of how he thought his friends had prank-called him with an acceptance to medical school, and finally, how his passion for the Swedish band “The Sound” contributed to his ban of all MGM properties in Las Vegas.

“In the past we’ve been more focused on our tourism and our retirement communities, but the new goal of this community is to be more focused in the sciences and technology.” Nestled in St. George Utah, Dixie State University is a community style campus that welcomes it’s roughly 9000 students with an inviting landscape and walking campus. We talk about how #DSU got its name and why shifting the community focus to the sciences and technology has become important. Finally, we talk about the Dixie Pre Medical Alliance (DPMA) and what opportunities they offer students to assist in preparing for med school, as well as the resources available in the premed advising office.

“I always thought I wanted to be an OB/Gyn. My path has kind of always led me through women’s health and I got on my rotation on the first day and it was kind of just meant to be.” Alex grew up in Utah, but headed to #Harvard to pursue a degree in Anthropology. We talk about the differences between Harvard and medical school, and how her degree in Anthropology has aided her in medicine. We discuss the Utah baby name phenomenon and finally, how it felt to go into her OB/Gyn rotation after years of dreaming about it.

“There’s a point in school, especially here, where you just feel like you have to learn for yourself and you have to keep up with the learning and teaching for yourself and not with what everyone else is doing.” Anish grew up in Sandy, Utah and headed to Baltimore to attend John Hopkins #JHU for undergrad.  We talk about what it was like to live in Baltimore and how taking a gap year in between undergrad and medical school could have made a difference for him.  Next, we talk about his experiences as one of the youngest members in his medical school class, as well as different relationship models and why it’s important to find one that works for both parties.  Finally, we close our discussion with a Taco Bell #tacobell analysis too.

“Have something that you do that gives you a different identity.”Dr. Dwyer is in his sixth year of a nine year education and training path.  We talk about the Triple Board Residency Program and what attracted him to it, and how he mentally prepared for five days of interviewing.  We compare and contrast Salt Lake City to the Twin Cities, and finally, we discuss Ultimate Frisbee and how it played a part in his medical school application.

“I’m excited to be in a hospital with people that I love working with, everyone’s been so supportive in my fourth year rotations.”During her Second Look Day visit at UUSOM, Chesy’s interest was sparked in a new and upcoming program called EPAC (Education in Pediatrics Across the Continuum), sponsored by the #AAMC. We discuss what the program is, how the competency based training is different from timed training, and what applying to the program entails. Finally, we talk about how her fourth year has been different compared to her classmates as an EPAC participant, and what the new year brings as she begins her Intern Residency year after graduating from medical school early.